The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-25
SAELLElBfR LYyCHED
TIE MURDERER OF HIS LITTLE
DAUGHT2R MOBBED.
He Remains Nervy UatIl the Last.
Djing With Curses Upon
His Lips.

NEBRASKA Cry, NEB July 24.-Ths
execution OF Hoffman, the train
wrecker, on Friday, was the incentive
to one OF the beet exc cuted plans of
Judge Lynch ever perpetra,ed In this
part oil the county. Fo,two days ru-
mors have been snoat that an organ
izsd mob would make an attempt to
secure Lee Shellenberger, the murder
er OF his little daughter. On Friday
night an attempt was to have been
made to lynch him, bu. tho sheriff
having been iorewarned, the mob was
dispersed by the militia. Ii was sup
posed to have been the end OF the
matter, and therefore the citiE ,ns
were rather surprised when Il was
learned that this morning the ylRf-
lantes had secured an entrance into
the Jail last night and hang shellen-
berger. An eye witness says The mob
approached the courthouse about 2 40
o'clock am, noiselsssly, masked and
we'll armed, The guards being taken
completely by surprise were easily
overpowered. Au effort 10 break In
the heavy iron doors Of the corridors
was fr1itless, and the sherlii's office,
which is directly over the pris.
oner's cell, was entered and An
opening about three by six feet was
made in the floor, through which part
OF the mob entered and in which the
condemned man was conf led. The
door was broken opsn, tho prisoner
dragged out into the courtyard and n
rops fastened rouud mis- neck. He
declared bis innocence Of the crime of
which he was charged and convicted,
and requested his body be- buried on
the old homestead until he was proven
innocent, when he should bs removed
TO tho side Of his dead father and
buried like other people. He never
broke down and remained neryy to
the last Tie was sirurg up, diving
with curses on his lips, az he said:
III haunt You 60 b-s II /
can" The mob, which was composed
chi, fly Of Gsimau farmers from the
vicinity OF the murder, then disap-
peared. They left singing loudly. A
yell was raised 10 lynch tue prisoners
lawyers also, which was agreed 10 by
a large number OF the mob, but wiser
counsel prevailed. The crime for
which She lJnbeTger was lynched was
one Of the most atrocous and blackeet
In the history oi the State. The vic.
tim was Maggie Shellen berger, q
bright child of eleven years Of
age. April 20, 1885, Les came
TO town, informed the coroner and
eherin that his little daughter Msggie
had committed suicide. She Was
found at the bottom OF the cellar
steps with two irighliul cuts across her
throat, one almost severing the neck
from the body. ShellenDerger and
his vile. siep-mother To Maeeie, were
arresttd d on suspicion aud at their trial
he wa con, ed OF murder snd sent
enced to bang bu. secured another
hearing In the Supreme Court and his
execution was put on indti aitely.
The woman secured q change Of
venue 10 Lancaster cJunty and had
her trial nj Lincoln several months
ago. The Jury Jailed 10 agree. There
has been several former attempts
made to lynch sheIlenbsrser, but un-
successfully. He is credited with
several other murders, one OF which
he 10 very likely guilty, was the
murderer OF an Eaglishmsn named
Leo ard, several years ago on the
nver bank, which has always 70.
mAlned q mystery, but suipicion al
wsys pointed strongly 10 Shellenber.
ger though Il could never be proven.